Note-sheet controller.



M. VERSTRAELEN.

NOTE SHEET CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MA,Y19, 1913.

Y Patented July '7, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Mt m. 5/5 Mia/e27. 2. wfizm THE NORRIS PETERS CO" PHOTOJJTHOU WASHINGTON. D. C

M. VERSTRAELEN.

NOTE SHEET CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1913. 1,102,969 Patented July 7, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

6 Z Z 0 m2 ey.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D C.

n b PKKR us 9% Y N wwwa , UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL VERSTBAELEN, OF INGL-EWOOI), CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T JOHN H. BURTON, OF OCEANPAR-K, CALIFORNIA.

NOTE-SHEET CONTROLLER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL VER- STRAELEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Inglewood, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Note-Sheet Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for automatically returning to the correct position the perforated note sheets used in automatic players for thepiano and organ and like instruments whenever the same leave its correct position while being played, and the object thereof is to provide simple and efiicien-t mechanism for that purpose.

I have shown my invention as applied to a piano not especially built for an automatic player action and will describe it as so applied.

It will be understood that it may be used in pianos, organs or other like instruments especially built for a player action,'and when so used the device will be mounted upon the top of the pneumatic action or other suitable position. I accomplish this purpose by the mechanism described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 1s a front elevation of the note sheet operating mechanism with my controller attached thereto and a fragment of a piano. Fig. 2 is a plan with the top of the controller removed. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the control action. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings 10 is a bar which is attached at its ends to the case of the piano, not shown. Upon bar 10 is mounted the note sheet operating mechanism which consists of the music roll 11 on which is carried the perforated note sheet 12, tracker board 13, take up roll 14 and the usual driving mechanism 15 operated in the usual manner from the action {chamber (not shown). The tracker board is attached to and supported by rigid end boards 16 which are connected by bottom board 17. Board 17 is secured to bar 10.

Adjacent to and exterior to end boards 16 are movable end boards 18 and 19 which are separated from the rigid end boards by a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19, 1913.

Patented July *7, 1914. Serial No. 768,522.

space of about one-fourth of an inch. The upper ends of the movable end boards are thicker than the lower portion and extend upwardly and form the ends of the music roll chamber. The edges of these boards are covered by upright finishing boards 20 and 21 which are secured to the rigid end boards.

Shaft 22 of the music roll is revolubly mounted in bearing 23 secured to the movable end board 18 so that it will move endwise when said bearing moves.

Shaft 24 of the takeup roll is revolubly mounted in bearing 25 secured to the movable end board 18 so that it will move endwise when said bearing moves. Shaft 24 passes loosely through the rigid end boards.

A rectifying bar 26 is pivotally connected to arms 27 pivotally mounted in bearings 27 secured to the case. This bar has brackets 28 and 29 adjustably secured to the face thereof between which the note sheet travels. These brackets are so adjusted on the bar that when the note sheet is correctly positioned it passes over the bar with its edges just touching these brackets. This bar passes loosely through end board 18 and is secured to the sliding valve 30 which normally covers the outer ends of channels 31 and 32. The inner end of channel 31 terminates in the primary pneumatic chamber 33. The inner end of channel 32 ,terminates in the primary pneumatic chamber 34. The top wall of chamber 33 is a flexible diaphragm which separates it from suction chamber 36. The top wall 37 of chamber 34 is a flexible diaphragm which separates it from suction chamber 36. Chamber 36 is connected by channel 38 with the action of the player (not shown). Resting upon diaphragm 35 is a valve stem 39 which passes through a port 40 in the top wall 41 of chamber 36. Stem 39 carries a valve 42 which normally closes port 40.

Resting upon diaphragm 37 is a valve stem 43 which passes through a port 44 in the top wall of chamber 36. Stem 43 carries a valve 45 which normally closes port 44. Port 40 opens into the secondary pneumatic chamber 46. Port 44 opens into the secondary pneumatic chamber 47. Leading through the top wall of chamber 47 is a port 51 which opens to atmosphere. A channel 52 leads from chamber 46 to and terminates in action rectifying bellows 53. A

channel 54 leads from chamber 47 to and terminates in action rectifying bellows 55. The movable board 56 of bellows 53 is connected to the movable board 57 of bellows 55 by a link 58 which is pivotally connected to both. The movable board of bellows 53 is connected by bar 59 to bar 63 which last bar is connected by screws 64 and 65 to board 18 so as .to adjust the position of end board 18. End boards 18 and 19 are connected by top board 60 and by shelf 62 and are guided and supported by brackets 61 secured to finishing boards 20 and 21. I

In the operation of a player equipped with my note sheet controller, as lon' as the note sheet travels over the tracker card in its correct position the controller is inoperative. Should the sheet travel to the right the right edge will bear against bracket29lwhich will be moved thereb to the right thereby carrying bar 26 an valve 30 to the right and unclosing the inouth of channel 31. The main action then raises diaphragm which carries valve 42 ofi o'rt 40 and onto port 49 thereby throwing c amber 46 and channel 52 into connection with the main action, Rectifying bellows 53 then collapses and through bar 59 moves the end'boards to the left thus bringing back the note sheet to its correct" position. As the note sheet is returned to its correct position the valve 30 is also returned to its correct position. The movement of the note sheet to the left of its correct position effects a reverse rectifying movement through bellows 55 and connected parts.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A note sheet controller for automatic players comprisinga frame slidably inounted for endwise movement longitudinally of the tracker board; a music roll and a takeup roll revolubly mounted in said frame and movable therewith; pneumatically operated means for moving said frame endwise; and means operated and engaged and moved by the note sheet on leaving its correct position to set in action the frame moving means, said mechanism being adapted to stop the action of the frame moving means upon the return of the note sheet to its correct position.

2. A note sheet controller com rising a justifying bar; brackets secured t ereto; a valve secured to and operated by said bar; primary neumatics havin channels controlled b said valve; secon ary pneumatic-s having 0 annels controlled by the primary pneumatics; rectifying bellows controlled by said secondary pneumatics; a movable case; amusic roll and a takeup roll mounted in said case and movable therewith; and a connection from said case to said rectifying bellows.

In witness that I claim the fore oing I have hereunto subscribed my name t is 10th day of May, 1913.

MICHAEL VERSTRAELEN,

Vitnesses:

C. H. GATGHEL, FRANK WATERFIELD.

Copies)! tnll patent my be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents; Washington, D. G. 

